Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
young fanatic. As a skillful general, seeing the enemy ready to `
` surrender, marches toward him with a cry of victory, she rose, `
` beautiful as an antique priestess, inspired like a Christian `
` virgin, her arms extended, her throat uncovered, her hair `
` disheveled, holding with one hand her robe modestly drawn over `
` her breast, her look illumined by that fire which had already `
` created such disorder in the veins of the young Puritan, and went `
` toward him, crying out with a vehement air, and in her melodious `
` voice, to which on this occasion she communicated a terrible `
` energy: `
` `
` `
` "Let this victim to Baal be sent, `
` To the lions the martyr be thrown! `
` Thy God shall teach thee to repent! `
` From th' abyss he'll give ear to my moan." `
` `
` `
` Felton stood before this strange apparition like one petrified. `
` `
` "Who art thou? Who art thou?" cried he, clasping his hands. `
` "Art thou a messenger from God; art thou a minister from hell; `
` art thou an angel or a demon; callest thou thyself Eloa or `
` Astarte?" `
` `
` "Do you not know me, Felton? I am neither an angel nor a demon; `
` I am a daughter of earth, I am a sister of thy faith, that is `
` all." `
` `
` "Yes, yes!" said Felton, "I doubted, but now I believe." `
` `
` "You believe, and still you are an accomplice of that child of `
` Belial who is called Lord de Winter! You believe, and yet you `
` leave me in the hands of mine enemies, of the enemy of England, `
` of the enemy of God! You believe, and yet you deliver me up to `
` him who fills and defiles the world with his heresies and `
` debaucheries--to that infamous Sardanapalus whom the blind call `
` the Duke of Buckingham, and whom believers name Antichrist!" `
` `
` "I deliver you up to Buckingham? I? what mean you by that?" `
` `
` "They have eyes," cried Milady, "but they see not; ears have `
` they, but they hear not." `
` `
` "Yes, yes!" said Felton, passing his hands over his brow, covered `
` with sweat, as if to remove his last doubt. "Yes, I recognize `
` the voice which speaks to me in my dreams; yes, I recognize the `
` features of the angel who appears to me every night, crying to my `
` soul, which cannot sleep: 'Strike, save England, save thyself-- `
` for thou wilt die without having appeased God!' Speak, speak!" `
` cried Felton, "I can understand you now." `
` `
` A flash of terrible joy, but rapid as thought, gleamed from the `
` eyes of Milady. `
` `
` However fugitive this homicide flash, Felton saw it, and started `
` as if its light had revealed the abysses of this woman's heart. `
` He recalled, all at once, the warnings of Lord de Winter, the `
` seductions of Milady, her first attempts after her arrival. He `
` drew back a step, and hung down his head, without, however, `
` ceasing to look at her, as if, fascinated by this strange `
` creature, he could not detach his eyes from her eyes. `
` `
` Milady was not a woman to misunderstand the meaning of this `
` hesitation. Under her apparent emotions her icy coolness never `
` abandoned her. Before Felton replied, and before she should be `
` forced to resume this conversation, so difficult to be sustained `
` in the same exalted tone, she let her hands fall; and as if the `
` weakness of the woman overpowered the enthusiasm of the inspired `
` fanatic, she said: "But no, it is not for me to be the Judith to `
` deliver Bethulia from this Holofernes. The sword of the eternal `
` is too heavy for my arm. Allow me, then, to avoid dishonor by `
` death; let me take refuge in martyrdom. I do not ask you for `
` liberty, as a guilty one would, nor for vengeance, as would a `
` pagan. Let me die; that is all. I supplicate you, I implore you `
` on my knees--let me die, and my last sigh shall be a blessing for `
` my preserver." `
` `
` Hearing that voice, so sweet and suppliant, seeing that look, so `
` timid and downcast, Felton reproached himself. By degrees the `
` enchantress had clothed herself with that magic adornment which `
` she assumed and threw aside at will; that is to say, beauty, `
` meekness, and tears--and above all, the irresistible attraction `
` of mystical voluptuousness, the most devouring of all `
` voluptuousness. `
` `
` "Alas!" said Felton, "I can do but one thing, which is to pity `
` you if you prove to me you are a victim! But Lord de Winter `
` makes cruel accusations against you. You are a Christian; you `
` are my sister in religion. I feel myself drawn toward you--I, `
` who have never loved anyone but my benefactor--I who have met `
` with nothing but traitors and impious men. But you, madame, so `
` beautiful in reality, you, so pure in appearance, must have `
` committed great iniquities for Lord de Winter to pursue you `
` thus." `
` `
` "They have eyes," repeated Milady, with an accent of `
` indescribable grief, "but they see not; ears have they, but they `
` hear not." `
` `
` "But," cried the young officer, "speak, then, speak!" `
` `
` "Confide my shame to you," cried Milady, with the blush of `
` modesty upon her countenance, "for often the crime of one becomes `
` the shame of another--confide my shame to you, a man, and I a `
` woman? Oh," continued she, placing her hand modestly over her `
` beautiful eyes, "never! never!--I could not!" `
` `
` "To me, to a brother?" said Felton. `
` `
` Milady looked at him for some time with an expression which the `
` young man took for doubt, but which, however, was nothing but `
` observation, or rather the wish to fascinate. `
` `
` Felton, in his turn a suppliant, clasped his hands. `
` `
` "Well, then," said Milady, "I confide in my brother; I will dare `
` to--" `
` `
` At this moment the steps of Lord de Winter were heard; but this `
` time the terrible brother-in-law of Milady did not content `
` himself, as on the preceding day, with passing before the door `
` and going away again. He paused, exchanged two words with the `
` sentinel; then the door opened, and he appeared. `
` `
` During the exchange of these two words Felton drew back quickly, `
` and when Lord de Winter entered, he was several paces from the `
` prisoner. `
` `
` The baron entered slowly, sending a scrutinizing glance from `
` Milady to the young officer. `
` `
` "You have been here a very long time, John," said he. "Has this `
` woman been relating her crimes to you? In that case I can `
` comprehend the length of the conversation." `
` `
` Felton started; and Milady felt she was lost if she did not come `
` to the assistance of the disconcerted Puritan. `
` `
` "Ah, you fear your prisoner should escape!" said she. "Well, ask `
` your worthy jailer what favor I this instant solicited of him." `
` `
` "You demanded a favor?" said the baron, suspiciously. `
` `
` "Yes, my Lord," replied the young man, confused. `
` `
` "And what favor, pray?" asked Lord de Winter. `
` `
` "A knife, which she would return to me through the grating of the `
` door a minute after she had received it," replied Felton. `
` `
` "There is someone, then, concealed here whose throat this amiable `
` lady is desirous of cutting," said de Winter, in an ironical, `
` contemptuous tone. `
` `
` "There is myself," replied Milady. `
` `
` "I have given you the choice between America and Tyburn," replied `
` Lord de Winter. "Choose Tyburn, madame. Believe me, the cord is `
` more certain than the knife." `
` `
` Felton grew pale, and made a step forward, remembering that at `
` the moment he entered Milady had a rope in her hand. `
` `
` "You are right," said she, "I have often thought of it." Then `
` she added in a low voice, "And I will think of it again." `
` `
` Felton felt a shudder run to the marrow of his bones; probably `
` Lord de Winter perceived this emotion. `
` `
` "Mistrust yourself, John," said he. "I have placed reliance upon `
` you, my friend. Beware! I have warned you! But be of good `
` courage, my lad; in three days we shall be delivered from this `
` creature, and where I shall send her she can harm nobody." `
` `
` "You hear him!" cried Milady, with vehemence, so that the baron `
` might believe she was addressing heaven, and that Felton might `
` understand she was addressing him. `
` `
` Felton lowered his head and reflected. `
` `
` The baron took the young officer by the arm, and turned his head `
` over his shoulder, so as not to lose sight of Milady till he was `
` gone out. `
` `
` "Well," said the prisoner, when the door was shut, "I am not so `
` far advanced as I believed. De Winter has changed his usual `
` stupidity into a strange prudence. It is the desire of `
` vengeance, and how desire molds a man! As to Felton, he `
` hesitates. Ah, he is not a man like that cursed d'Artagnan. A `
` Puritan only adores virgins, and he adores them by clasping his `
` hands. A Musketeer loves women, and he loves them by clasping `
` his arms round them." `
` `
` Milady waited, then, with much impatience, for she feared the day `
` would pass away without her seeing Felton again. At last, in an `
` hour after the scene we have just described, she heard someone `
` speaking in a low voice at the door. Presently the door opened, `
` and she perceived Felton. `
` `
` The young man advanced rapidly into the chamber, leaving the door `
`
` surrender, marches toward him with a cry of victory, she rose, `
` beautiful as an antique priestess, inspired like a Christian `
` virgin, her arms extended, her throat uncovered, her hair `
` disheveled, holding with one hand her robe modestly drawn over `
` her breast, her look illumined by that fire which had already `
` created such disorder in the veins of the young Puritan, and went `
` toward him, crying out with a vehement air, and in her melodious `
` voice, to which on this occasion she communicated a terrible `
` energy: `
` `
` `
` "Let this victim to Baal be sent, `
` To the lions the martyr be thrown! `
` Thy God shall teach thee to repent! `
` From th' abyss he'll give ear to my moan." `
` `
` `
` Felton stood before this strange apparition like one petrified. `
` `
` "Who art thou? Who art thou?" cried he, clasping his hands. `
` "Art thou a messenger from God; art thou a minister from hell; `
` art thou an angel or a demon; callest thou thyself Eloa or `
` Astarte?" `
` `
` "Do you not know me, Felton? I am neither an angel nor a demon; `
` I am a daughter of earth, I am a sister of thy faith, that is `
` all." `
` `
` "Yes, yes!" said Felton, "I doubted, but now I believe." `
` `
` "You believe, and still you are an accomplice of that child of `
` Belial who is called Lord de Winter! You believe, and yet you `
` leave me in the hands of mine enemies, of the enemy of England, `
` of the enemy of God! You believe, and yet you deliver me up to `
` him who fills and defiles the world with his heresies and `
` debaucheries--to that infamous Sardanapalus whom the blind call `
` the Duke of Buckingham, and whom believers name Antichrist!" `
` `
` "I deliver you up to Buckingham? I? what mean you by that?" `
` `
` "They have eyes," cried Milady, "but they see not; ears have `
` they, but they hear not." `
` `
` "Yes, yes!" said Felton, passing his hands over his brow, covered `
` with sweat, as if to remove his last doubt. "Yes, I recognize `
` the voice which speaks to me in my dreams; yes, I recognize the `
` features of the angel who appears to me every night, crying to my `
` soul, which cannot sleep: 'Strike, save England, save thyself-- `
` for thou wilt die without having appeased God!' Speak, speak!" `
` cried Felton, "I can understand you now." `
` `
` A flash of terrible joy, but rapid as thought, gleamed from the `
` eyes of Milady. `
` `
` However fugitive this homicide flash, Felton saw it, and started `
` as if its light had revealed the abysses of this woman's heart. `
` He recalled, all at once, the warnings of Lord de Winter, the `
` seductions of Milady, her first attempts after her arrival. He `
` drew back a step, and hung down his head, without, however, `
` ceasing to look at her, as if, fascinated by this strange `
` creature, he could not detach his eyes from her eyes. `
` `
` Milady was not a woman to misunderstand the meaning of this `
` hesitation. Under her apparent emotions her icy coolness never `
` abandoned her. Before Felton replied, and before she should be `
` forced to resume this conversation, so difficult to be sustained `
` in the same exalted tone, she let her hands fall; and as if the `
` weakness of the woman overpowered the enthusiasm of the inspired `
` fanatic, she said: "But no, it is not for me to be the Judith to `
` deliver Bethulia from this Holofernes. The sword of the eternal `
` is too heavy for my arm. Allow me, then, to avoid dishonor by `
` death; let me take refuge in martyrdom. I do not ask you for `
` liberty, as a guilty one would, nor for vengeance, as would a `
` pagan. Let me die; that is all. I supplicate you, I implore you `
` on my knees--let me die, and my last sigh shall be a blessing for `
` my preserver." `
` `
` Hearing that voice, so sweet and suppliant, seeing that look, so `
` timid and downcast, Felton reproached himself. By degrees the `
` enchantress had clothed herself with that magic adornment which `
` she assumed and threw aside at will; that is to say, beauty, `
` meekness, and tears--and above all, the irresistible attraction `
` of mystical voluptuousness, the most devouring of all `
` voluptuousness. `
` `
` "Alas!" said Felton, "I can do but one thing, which is to pity `
` you if you prove to me you are a victim! But Lord de Winter `
` makes cruel accusations against you. You are a Christian; you `
` are my sister in religion. I feel myself drawn toward you--I, `
` who have never loved anyone but my benefactor--I who have met `
` with nothing but traitors and impious men. But you, madame, so `
` beautiful in reality, you, so pure in appearance, must have `
` committed great iniquities for Lord de Winter to pursue you `
` thus." `
` `
` "They have eyes," repeated Milady, with an accent of `
` indescribable grief, "but they see not; ears have they, but they `
` hear not." `
` `
` "But," cried the young officer, "speak, then, speak!" `
` `
` "Confide my shame to you," cried Milady, with the blush of `
` modesty upon her countenance, "for often the crime of one becomes `
` the shame of another--confide my shame to you, a man, and I a `
` woman? Oh," continued she, placing her hand modestly over her `
` beautiful eyes, "never! never!--I could not!" `
` `
` "To me, to a brother?" said Felton. `
` `
` Milady looked at him for some time with an expression which the `
` young man took for doubt, but which, however, was nothing but `
` observation, or rather the wish to fascinate. `
` `
` Felton, in his turn a suppliant, clasped his hands. `
` `
` "Well, then," said Milady, "I confide in my brother; I will dare `
` to--" `
` `
` At this moment the steps of Lord de Winter were heard; but this `
` time the terrible brother-in-law of Milady did not content `
` himself, as on the preceding day, with passing before the door `
` and going away again. He paused, exchanged two words with the `
` sentinel; then the door opened, and he appeared. `
` `
` During the exchange of these two words Felton drew back quickly, `
` and when Lord de Winter entered, he was several paces from the `
` prisoner. `
` `
` The baron entered slowly, sending a scrutinizing glance from `
` Milady to the young officer. `
` `
` "You have been here a very long time, John," said he. "Has this `
` woman been relating her crimes to you? In that case I can `
` comprehend the length of the conversation." `
` `
` Felton started; and Milady felt she was lost if she did not come `
` to the assistance of the disconcerted Puritan. `
` `
` "Ah, you fear your prisoner should escape!" said she. "Well, ask `
` your worthy jailer what favor I this instant solicited of him." `
` `
` "You demanded a favor?" said the baron, suspiciously. `
` `
` "Yes, my Lord," replied the young man, confused. `
` `
` "And what favor, pray?" asked Lord de Winter. `
` `
` "A knife, which she would return to me through the grating of the `
` door a minute after she had received it," replied Felton. `
` `
` "There is someone, then, concealed here whose throat this amiable `
` lady is desirous of cutting," said de Winter, in an ironical, `
` contemptuous tone. `
` `
` "There is myself," replied Milady. `
` `
` "I have given you the choice between America and Tyburn," replied `
` Lord de Winter. "Choose Tyburn, madame. Believe me, the cord is `
` more certain than the knife." `
` `
` Felton grew pale, and made a step forward, remembering that at `
` the moment he entered Milady had a rope in her hand. `
` `
` "You are right," said she, "I have often thought of it." Then `
` she added in a low voice, "And I will think of it again." `
` `
` Felton felt a shudder run to the marrow of his bones; probably `
` Lord de Winter perceived this emotion. `
` `
` "Mistrust yourself, John," said he. "I have placed reliance upon `
` you, my friend. Beware! I have warned you! But be of good `
` courage, my lad; in three days we shall be delivered from this `
` creature, and where I shall send her she can harm nobody." `
` `
` "You hear him!" cried Milady, with vehemence, so that the baron `
` might believe she was addressing heaven, and that Felton might `
` understand she was addressing him. `
` `
` Felton lowered his head and reflected. `
` `
` The baron took the young officer by the arm, and turned his head `
` over his shoulder, so as not to lose sight of Milady till he was `
` gone out. `
` `
` "Well," said the prisoner, when the door was shut, "I am not so `
` far advanced as I believed. De Winter has changed his usual `
` stupidity into a strange prudence. It is the desire of `
` vengeance, and how desire molds a man! As to Felton, he `
` hesitates. Ah, he is not a man like that cursed d'Artagnan. A `
` Puritan only adores virgins, and he adores them by clasping his `
` hands. A Musketeer loves women, and he loves them by clasping `
` his arms round them." `
` `
` Milady waited, then, with much impatience, for she feared the day `
` would pass away without her seeing Felton again. At last, in an `
` hour after the scene we have just described, she heard someone `
` speaking in a low voice at the door. Presently the door opened, `
` and she perceived Felton. `
` `
` The young man advanced rapidly into the chamber, leaving the door `
`